GUWAHATI: The Ministry of Home Affairs will open 16 new Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandars in strife-torn Manipur to provide essential commodities to the common people at reasonable prices.
This was announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday.
Of the 16 such stores, eight will be in the valley and the remaining eight in the hills, he said.
Shah also said that these bhandars will be opened for the common people from Tuesday in addition to the existing 21 such stores.
In a post on ‘X’, the Union Home Minister said in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment, the MHA is launching the initiative to provide commodities to the people of Manipur at reasonable prices.
“Now the Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandars will be opened for common people from September 17, 2024. In addition to 21 existing Bhandars, 16 new ones will be opened. Among the 16 new centres, eight will be in the valley, and the remaining eight in the hills,” Shah said.
In line with PM Shri @narendramodi Ji's commitment, the MHA is launching an initiative to provide commodities to the people of Manipur at reasonable prices. Now the Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandars will be open for common people from September 17, 2024. In addition to 21 existing…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 16, 2024
Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar (KPKB) outlets are a welfare initiative launched by the ministry of home affairs in 2006 to provide consumer goods to personnel and kin of serving and retired members of the Central armed police forces, Central police organisations and state police forces, at rates cheaper than the open market.
KPKP provides a wide range and variety of consumer goods to its 35 lakh beneficiaries at the rates cheaper than the market.
The Central Purchase Committee of KPKB successfully negotiates with the firms to get maximum discounts along with consumer promotional offers on products in order to save hard earned money of KPKB beneficiaries.
ALSO READ: Meitei groups stage protest in Meghalaya & New Delhi over escalating violence in Manipur
The valley districts of Manipur are inhabited by the majority Meiteis and the hill areas are inhabited by the tribal Kuki community.
Ethnic violence has been going on in Manipur since May 3 last year after a tribal solidarity march in the in the hill districts of the state to protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
